“Two Men Convicted of Murder and Attempted Murder in West Long Beach Shooting, Jose Corrales Killed”

– Men convicted of murdering grandfather in drive-by shooting
– Men convicted of murdering grandfather in 2018 shooting.

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Jurors Convict Two Men of Murder and Attempted Murder in West Long Beach Drive-By Shooting

In a verdict reached on Thursday, two men were convicted of murder and attempted murder for their involvement in a drive-by shooting that occurred in West Long Beach. The incident, which took place on October 9, 2018, resulted in the death of a 69-year-old grandfather, Jose Corrales, and the injury of another man. The convicted individuals, identified as 28-year-old Terrel Warren and 25-year-old Rhyan Burrell, were found guilty based on overwhelming evidence presented by prosecutors.

According to prosecutors, Warren and Burrell were specifically targeting Hispanic people for the shooting. The motive behind their actions was attributed to an altercation that occurred earlier in the day, where one of their relatives was allegedly accosted by a group of Hispanic students at Cabrillo High School. After the incident, the two defendants drove around the area near Canal Street and Summit Avenue before Warren fired multiple shots at a passing car from the passenger’s side, while Burrell shot at Jose Corrales and his grandchildren from the driver’s side.

During the trial, which began on January 11, witness testimony from bystanders, detectives, ballistic experts, and Corrales’ grandchildren, as well as cell phone records, surveillance footage, and undercover operations in jail were presented as evidence. Each defense attorney attempted to cast doubt on the evidence, but during closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney Robert Song argued that there was overwhelming evidence proving Warren and Burrell’s intent to kill.

Song pointed out that prior to the shooting, Warren and Burrell, along with other family members, visited Cabrillo High School to discuss the earlier altercation. The interaction between them and the administrators became heated, leading to the involvement of the police. Surveillance footage showed the defendants and their family members leaving the school and heading towards a Gold Altima. Later, the same vehicle was captured on security cameras in the vicinity of the shooting, suggesting premeditation.

Prosecutors also highlighted the video evidence and ballistics evidence, which supported their claim that each shot fired by Warren and Burrell demonstrated intent to kill. After the shooting, the defendants fled but were eventually apprehended by the police. Further evidence tying them to the crime scene was gathered through cell phone records and recordings of conversations they had with an undercover agent, where they discussed the shooting.

Warren’s defense attorney, Adam Koppekin, admitted that his client was the shooter from the passenger’s seat but argued that he had no knowledge of the shooting from the driver’s side. Koppekin urged the jurors to focus on the facts and evidence rather than the prosecution’s speculation. He claimed that the shooting was a spur-of-the-moment act and did not meet the criteria for first-degree murder.

Burrell’s defense attorney, Charles Frisco, argued that there was insufficient evidence connecting his client to the shooting. He suggested that it was Warren’s brother who fired the fatal shot from the back passenger’s seat, pointing to witness statements and security footage as supporting evidence. Frisco also questioned the validity of the jail recordings, stating that they did not prove Burrell’s involvement in the shooting.

In response, Song reiterated that both Warren and Burrell were guilty of first-degree murder, emphasizing the evidence of high tensions at Cabrillo High School before the shooting, the defendants’ premeditation, and the DNA evidence linking them to the crime scene. He dismissed the defense’s arguments as selective interpretation of the evidence.

The jury will now deliberate to determine the final verdict and the appropriate sentencing for Warren and Burrell. The prosecution has requested a first-degree murder conviction for both defendants..

– Men convicted of murdering grandfather in drive-by shooting
– Men convicted of murdering grandfather in 2018 shooting.